Birmingham finance manager chosen for same position for shared services in Swartz Creek, Clio

SWARTZ CREEK, MI – Jon Pechette will spend half his time in Swartz Creek and the other half of his job in Clio after the Swartz Creek school board hired him as the director of finance for both school districts.

Pechette will officially be an employee of Swartz Creek on June 16, but will have his $100,000 contract split between the two districts, along with his time.

Clio Superintendent Fletcher Spears III

"Our districts are very simila,r so it only made sense to give it a try and see how it goes," Clio Superintendent Fletcher Spears III said.

The hiring is part of a plan to share services of a director of finance and a director of human resources.

"They're really becoming specialized areas," Swartz Creek Superintendent Jeff Hall said. "It allows for some savings but also allows for more of an area of expertise."

The schools are expecting to offer a $100,000 contract when a human resources director is hired. That person will officially be hired by Clio, and the school districts will split the pay and the time 50-50.

Jeff Hall

Swartz Creek will save roughly $15,000 from the arrangement. The school district was paying Spears about $115,000 to do both jobs. Meanwhile, Spears, who was hired in April as superintendent of Clio, said that district will be paying roughly the same as last year.

Pechette has experience as the financial manager in Clarkston and Bath, as well as experience as an auditor, Spears said.

"This is a good opportunity for these two class-A districts to try and work together in an area that we can share expertise," Spears said. "It's my hope we'll be able to provide better services.

Spears said he expects to go through resumes for human resources applicants soon.

Jerry Johnson, executive director of communications and development for the Genesee County Intermediate School District, said the county has a "rich heritage of collaborating," and produces a document annually to look at that work.

Besides collaborating for positions, districts worked on countywide trash removal, which saved about $100,000 for schools, he said.

"I commend every district for looking at ways they can get done what needs to get done and in an efficient way to ... get money in the classroom and teach kids," Johnson said.